According to Deputy Health Minister Anibal Velasquez, in August, Peruvian health officials declared an epidemic alert after the WHO’s announcement of a worldwide public health emergency, yet no case of the Ebola virus has been reported in the Andean nation so far.
All necessary measures have been taken to prevent the enter of the virus into the country, and epidemiological surveillance systems have been strengthened to detect and deal with potentially important cases. Important steps have been taken to inform citizens going to or coming from Africa about the potential risks, thus seeking to improve their knowledge and early detection of possible cases, the official added.
The Jamaican authorities have stepped up planning the prevention of Ebola infection and effective management if the virus enters the island. Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller said during a press briefing that the ministry of health is the lead agency for contingency planning and for the country’s health emergency response.
She added that the government has also engaged various international partners to assist Jamaica with prevention, planning, response preparedness and surveillance.
